Device for curling or undulating hair



Nov. 17,1925. 1,561,514

P. E. GAIRE DEVICE FOR CURLING OR UNDULATING HAIR Filed Jan. 2 1925 2 She'ets-Sheet 1 PAUL. EDMOIiD GAiRE TTcJBHEr Patented Nov. 17, 1925. v

UNITED STATES PAUL EDMUND GAIRE,

DEVICE FOR CURLING Application filed January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL EDMUND Gama, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident at Brussels, Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Curling or Undulating Hair, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the art of hair waving and it has for its object to provide an improved method and de vices whereby a permanent waving, the socalled Marcel waving or undulation may be obtained in a single operation and in very short time.

The methods and devices heretofore known require of the person whose hair is to be dressed to keep motionless for a couple of hours and yet they merely produce per manent curling, whilst the waving proper is to be made with a special iron.

My apparatus is of the known type comprising the combination of a varying number of heating elements, hingedly connected together by rigid links in such a way that if they are shifted towards each other they are simultaneously shifted longitudinally with relation to each other, in other words, said elements are in alinement when in extended position, and when brought to- A gether for the purpose of waving the hair, the alternate elements will move in opposite directions of their longitudinal axes. The hair being held in parallel relation in the various successive elements (by means of combs made integral with said elements), it will be understood that if said elements are moved towards each other as described, in such a way that the second element will be moved towards the right hand with relation to the first one, the third element towards the left hand with relation to the second one, the fourth element towards the right hand with relation to the third one, the hair held on said elements will be curved in the horizontal plane assuming a general sinusoidal form, that is they will receive a flat waving quite similiar to a natural undulation. The radius of the various ringlets will of course vary according to the length of the rigid connections between the various successive elements, that is according to the relative moments of the various elements.

With the above undulatory movement of the elements and in order to obtain a permanent, durable waving, I form between PATENT OFFICE.

OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

OR UNDULATING HAIR.

20, 1925. Serial No. 3,613.

pach pair of elements a rib in the lock of Mill.

Such rib will be obtained by pressingbetween two successive elements at the moment they are moved towards each other the lock of hair lower than the bottom of the teeth of the comb of each element and then strongly tightening the elements against each other, thus tightening the ribs of hair between them.

The apparatus will be used like any other known apparatus, producing permanent undulation, that is the hair will first be moist'ened, then dried artificially on the apparatus placed in operative position. Any source of heat (gas, benzine, electricity, steam and the like) may be used, but in practice electric current will be preferable owing to the great simplicity of supply.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example one preferred embodiment of my invention, heated by means of electricity. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my apparatus in expanded position ready for insertion in the hair to be waved.

Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the heating elements with a cross section on line Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus partially collapsed, showing the manner in which the various elements are moved towards each other.

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing two of the adjacent elements shown in Fig. 3, with the lock of hair bent by means of a suitable knife.

Fig. 5 is a view similiar to Fig. 4, but in which the two elements are completely moved towards each other tightly squashing the curl.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a modification.

Fig. 7 is another view corresponding to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of another improved modification, whereby regular folds may be produced on the entire length of the locks.

Fig. 9 is a plan view and Fig. 10 is a side view of a waved lock.

Each element 1 comprises (Fig. 2) a metal or other heat conducting casing 2, in which the electric resistance 3 is housed. The latter is Wound around a bar 4. made of clemateite and the whole is housed within mica or other insulating material which may be inserted into the casing 2. At its opposite ends the bar at ends into two pieces of copper 6, against which abut the two ends of the resistance; the latter enter a hole 7 in said piece 6, communicating with a perpendicular hole 8 into which is inserted the conducting wire 9 which connects the successive elements in series l). A. screw 10 extending through the casing tightens both wires in position and secures a perfect contact as well the rigid connection of the various pairs of the element 1. On its pper side each element carries a metal sem1c1rcular part 12 equipped with a series (or a plurality) of comb-teeth 13.

The various elments are connected ly rigid links 1% mounted on screws 15 tending though the ends of the elements 1, winged nuts 16 enabling the elements and links to be locked in position, for instance if the apparatus is in ope ation. As already described, the number of elements will vary according to the length of the locks and the size of undulations to be produced.

In order to wave natural or living hair, I proceed as follows: The lock of hair to be waved being moistened with any suitable known liquid, the hair will be laid parallel and spread on a small board or table, which is movable and adjustable in any direction as desired by the operator. Said table is brought the nearest possible to the head of the person whose hair is to be waved, and is maintained in such position by any convenient means. The lock of hair being maintained by its free end, the apparatus in its open position will be applied upon the same (Fig. l), the teeth extending downwardly through the hair, the points in contact with the table. The apparatus is then moved towards the head to' the desired distance and the hair 19 is attached to the apparatus by means of a spring-blade 17 passed below the hair between the head and the first element, and attached to said element by means of its two bent ends 18 which extend into the casingof the element (Figs. 1 and In this manner the hair 19 will be wedged between said spring blade and the casing of the first element. Then I insert below the hair between the first and second elements a metallic knife 20 having a bevelled edge and I raise the hair by means of said knife until the apex of the rib thus formed somewhat projects above the two elements (Fig. 4-). The two elements are then moved towards each other and when they are about to reach each other, the knife 20 'is withdrawn lengthwise and the nuts of the first two elements are tightened, said elements being new in a collapsed position shown in Fig. 0. All the elements being thus locked in position, electric current or any other source of heat is applied thereto for a time determined by experiments, whereupon the apparatus is withdrawn. The waving obtained is perfectly flat, that is the folds are formed in the same hori- Zontal plane and not in different vertical planes as with other known devices, I obtain waves the radius of which depends on the length of the connecting links 14:. The upper ribs depend on the height to which the hair has been raised by the knife :20 between the successive elements whilst the bottom or base of the waves depends on the curvature of the parts 12 of the ele ments 1.

In order to wave dead locks, the apparatus may be placed, with the teeth turned upward and the lock of hair pressed between the same, the lock being held in position for instance by means of a small plate provided with teeth pressing the hair perfectly upon the base of the teeth 13.

It is obvious that according to the source of heat used, the apparatus is to be modified in order to permit tight connections between the various elements.

Instead of the spring blade 17 attaching the hair to the first element, and for the purpose of facilitating manipulationl may use another springy blade 17 (Fig. 6), the two ends 17 and 17 of which are bent at right angles; a narrow slot 17 is provided on the major portion of its length.

In practice said blade is laid upon the first element 1 towards the teeth 13 2), which engages the slot 17 the bent ends 17 and 17 engaging both ends of the element and serving to secure the blade on the e1ement together with the hair which is clamped between said blade and element.

The laying of the blade is very simple and permits to have the wave starting from as near to the head as desired; this is obtained by placing the blade with its bent ends turned upwardly, upon a table or shelf, arrange the hair upon said blade and cause the teeth of the first element to engage the slot 17 in the blade.

With the previously described waving apparatus it may be uneasy to give the tress of hair an absolutely regular waving on its entire width, said tress being in general thicker at the central portion than at the rims, whereby the folds will be stronger at the central portion of the lock.

In order to obtain uniform clamping of the hair on the entire length of the lock between the successive elements, the opposite faces of the various successive elements are provided with blades 20 of cork or any yielding material which cannot be ignited at a temperature of say 100 C.

With the apparatus improved in'this way I obtain perfect waving, not only in a sin gle plane as is the case with known devices, but in two perpendicular planes.

Having now fully described my said invent-ion, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hair waving apparatus, the combination of a number of heating elements, each of which is provided with a rounded 3 surface carrying one or several rows of comb-teeth between which pass the hair, rigid links connecting said elements together and causing the successive elements to be moved longitudinally with relation to each other if the same are moved towards each other, whereby the hair will be caused to move in the same way, with a knife adapted to be inserted below the hair and raised to a varying amount according to the height of the rib to be formed on the hair, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hair waving apparatus, the combination of a number of heating elements, each of which is provided with a rounded surface having a narrow longitudinal slot extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the first element, the hair being clamped 7 between said blade and element, and rigid links connecting said elements together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hair waving apparatus, the combination of a number of heating elements each of which is provided with a rounded surface carrying one or several rows of comb-teeth, strips of yielding material lining the opposite faces of said elements, a spring blade having a narrow longitudinal slot I extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the first element and rigid links connecting said elements together, substant-ially as described.v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL EDMUND GAIRE. 

